Abstract

Of all the ossiferous caverns of this country which have from time to time been explored since 1821, there are none, perhaps, which form so exact a parallel to the Hyæna-den at Kirkdale as that which I bring before your notice this evening.

It is situated at Wookey-Itole, a village on the southern flanks of the Mendips, and about two miles to the north-west of Wells. The ravine in which it was discovered is one of the many which pierce the dolomitic conglomerate, or petrified sea-beach of the Permian (?) age, still lmderlying its ancient sea-cliffs of Mountain-limestone, and overlying the lower slopes of the Mendips. Open to the south, it runs almost horizontally into the mountain-side, until closed abruptly northwards by a perpendicular wall of rock, 200 feet or more in height, ivy-covered, and affording a dwelling-place to innumerable jackdaws. Out of a cave at its base, in which Dr. Buckland* discovered pottery and human teeth, flows the River Axe, in a canal cut in the rock. In cutting this passage, that the water might be conveyed to a large paper-mill close by, the mouth of the tty~ena-den was intersected some ten years ago; and from that time up to December 1859, it was undisturbed save by rabbits and badgers ; and even they did not penetrate far into the interior, or make deep burrows. Close to the mouth of the cave the workmen (employed in making this canal) found more than 300 Roman coins, among which were those

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